Thanks for all of the engagement on our first post with Carbon Yield on lessons from Ag Supply Chain Decarbonization! Benjamin Filippo, Sam Schiller, Claire Pluard, and I have appreciated the feedback. Check out our next installment...
2nd Rule of Thumb
Quantification challenges are not a barrier to action.
We have good enough tools, sure they are going to get better (ask us about the exciting ones that are in the wings!), but directionally we know what works and have plenty of sure-bet #decarbonization solutions ready to roll. We cannot let quantification inhale the lion share of the budget set aside for #ghg incentives, nor do we have to accept coarse emissions factors that tell us very little about the implementation of a specific project. What we do start to know is what variables matter the most, and what variables just take up space and time on a producer survey. We can focus on the biggest emissions sources, the data that impact those sources most directly, the critical inputs that are hard to observe from a satellite model, and the variables related to meaningful departures from business as usual. That gives us more than enough to move a project forward, stand behind impact, and even recalculate in the future if better tools can reduce our uncertainty on the range of impact actually generated.
3rd Rule of Thumb
Governance and Accounting are where to put resources
Producers are willing to make changes, share data, and contribute to decarbonization, but they need to know their needs are protected, real value is being put on the table, risks are shared, and compensation is based on factors they can control. Brands are willing to invest, but need to know claims are not double counted and provide sufficient flexibility to navigate complex procurement and supply chain challenges. These are fundamentally governance questions. This is where we invest a ton of time and resources, and is the key to scaling effective programs. Crucially, we design governance structures that are resilient to change, but adaptive to the context of a given supply chain and its stakeholders.
#decarbonization #governancematters #supplychainsustainability #scope3emissions